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Obama ‘08 iPhone Application

Politics and technology merge with this great new iPhone application.  Obama ‘08 is your official, comprehensive connection to the heart of Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s campaign, giving you the tools you need to make an impact and stay in the know. Making a difference takes only moments using the Call a Friend feature. Want to do more? Find your local Obama for America HQ or look up local campaign events. You’ll have instant access to Barack’s positions on important issues, as well as local and national campaign news as it happens. Photos and videos from the campaign trail are all here, too. You can download the application HERE.

Hey Boo Boo…Yogi Bear Headed For The Big Screen

Warner Bros. Pictures is developing a feature version of “Yogi Bear,” the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon, and Surf’s Up co-helmer/co-writer Ash Brannon is attached to direct.Joshua Sternin and Jeffrey Ventimilia, who executive produced “That ’70s Show” and are writing the feature Tooth Fairy for Fox, are penning the screenplay. Donald De Line is producing via his De Line Pictures; Karen Rosenfelt is also producing. The project is planned as a live-action/animated hybrid along the lines of Fox’s 2007 hit Alvin and the Chipmunks. Much of the movie will be live-action, but Yogi Bear and sidekick Boo Boo will be done in CG. Yogi’s exploits take place in Jellystone Park, where he and Boo Boo get into good-natured mischief and must elude their nemesis, Ranger Smith.

Flash Player Coming To The iPhone…Perhaps

Adobe’s senior director of engineering told attendees at the company’s Flash on the Beach conference in Brighton, England on Tuesday that Adobe is working on a version of the Flash Player for the iPhone.

According to a story on the Flashmagazine Web site, Adobe’s Paul Betlem shared the information in response to an audience question during a Town Hall meeting session.

Adobe has been committed to bringing Flash to the iPhone for some time. But since Apple has the ultimate say on whether or not to allow the Flash Player on the iPhone, and Apple CEO Steve Jobs told shareholders earlier this year that he didn’t think the current player is good enough for the iPhone, the situation is still up in the air. But Betlem added that once Apple gives its approval, Adobe will have the player ready in a very short time. Flash support is one of the major features still missing from the iPhone. Without it, users are unable to completely recreate the desktop Web experience on an iPhone.

Jon Favreau Talks About Iron Man 2

“Iron Man” director Jon Favreau had plenty to say about the film future of Marvel’s armored hero during a live, online Q&A session with fans, including some hints about the storylines that will drive “Iron Man 2,” the characters — both good and bad — that could make an appearance, and how he feels about the other big superhero movie that hit theaters this year.

“Mandarin is still an important figure in the Iron Man universe,” wrote Favreau during the live chat hosted by the LA Times’ Hero Complex blog. “We have an interesting take on him that allows us to incorporate the whole pantheon of villains. The whole 10 Rings thing in ['Iron Man'] was a good tease for it.”

As for the storyline of the “Iron Man” sequels, Favreau wrote that Tony Stark’s decision to reveal his identity at the end of the first film would drive the plot for following films.

“The sequel is shaping up to incorporate Tony’s vision for the future,” wrote Favreau. “What happens after he says ‘I am Iron Man?’ … He announced who he was and we have now officially departed from the standard secret ID superhero. Tony was already famous before the announcement. What would really happen if this went down? Fun to explore.”

Favreau seemed to downplay the likelihood that future films would touch on Stark’s famous “Demon in a Bottle” battle with alcoholism, writing, “That’s part of who he is. I don’t think we’ll ever do the ‘Leaving Las Vegas’ version, but it will be dealt with. ”

Fans should expect to see more of Samuel L. Jackson and his portrayal of S.H.I.E.L.D. chief Nick Fury, too, as Favreau told one participant in the chat, “[S.H.I.E.L.D.] is important to the franchise, and what is S.H.I.E.L.D. without Fury?” Along with Fury, several participants asked about a potential appearance by another fan-favorite character, War Machine — to which Favreau responded, “We need War Machine. Agreed. Shoulder cannons and all.”

Finally, Favreau had quite a bit to say about collaboration between filmmakers helming the slate of Marvel Studios films for the next few years, writing, “I think it’s important for all filmmakers working for Marvel to collaborate so there is a consistency in the films, so yes they should keep in touch.” “I had not been in touch really with Louis [Leterrier] during ‘Hulk’ and I think that would have been helpful,” he added. “I hope to be in contact with directors in the future.”

“Now that Marvel is making its own movies, every movie has to fit into the Marvel universe. The Avengers incorporates not just Iron Man, but Thor, possibly the Hulk and traditionally Captain America as well,” continued Favreau. “As it is, it’s scheduled ‘Thor’ will come out the same summer as ‘Iron Man 2’ and ‘Captain America’ will come out a few months before ‘Avengers.’ All the films have to come together to create a consistent universe. That’s very important to everyone involved.”

Marvel Unveils Variant Cover To Stephen Colbert Cameo In Amazing Spider-Man #573

By now, everyone knows that the leader of “Colbert Nation” and Presidential hopeful (at least in the Marvel universe) Stephen Colbert will be making a guest appearance in the upcoming “Amazing Spider-Man” #573. If you haven’t already added that particular issue to your pull list, you might wanna ask your local comic shop to get you a copy with the hot-off-the-presses variant cover drawn by Marvel’s Joe Quesada. (From the MTV Splash Page)

 

Robert De Niro Returns To Gangster Role With Martin Scorsese

Paramount Pictures is plotting a return to organized crime for Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro. The studio has set Steve Zaillian to adapt “I Heard You Paint Houses,” the book about the mob assassin who many believe was involved in the death of Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa.

Scorsese is attached to direct. De Niro will play Frank “the Irishman” Sheeran, who is reputed to have carried out more than 25 mob murders.

The film’s title refers to mob slang for contract killings, and the resulting blood splatter on walls and floors. The book was written by Charles Brandt, who befriended Sheeran shortly before the latter’s death in 2003. Among the crimes Sheeran confessed to Brandt, according to the 2004 book, was the killing and dismemberment of Hoffa, carried out on orders from mob boss Russell Bufalino.

Seal’s “Soul” Due On November 11th

Exactly a year on the heels of his last album, Seal will unveil another new project Nov. 11 via Warner Bros. “Soul,” as its name indicates, features the artist covering 11 vintage soul numbers with production from David Foster.

Among the material features is Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Otis Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes’ “If You Don’t Know Me by Now.”

“Someone once said, ‘The album will sound like the time you had making it.’ Never before has it been as true as in the process of recording this record,” says Seal.

 

Here is the song list for “Soul”:

“A Change Is Gonna Come” (Sam Cooke)
“I Can’t Stand The Rain” (Ann Pebbles)
“It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World” (James Brown)
“Knock on Wood” (Eddie Floyd)
“I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” (Otis Redding
“Here I Am (Come And Take Me)” (Al Green)
“If You Don’t Know Me By Now” (Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes)
“It’s Alright” (the Impressions)
“I’m Still in Love With You” (Al Green)
“Free” (Deniece Williams)
“People Get Ready” (the Impressions)

 

Neil Gaiman Readings

Neil Gaiman is reading a different chapter from his new book, “The Graveyard Book” at each stop on his book tour and posting the video online HERE.

 

 

 

James Taylor Performs Live On The Colbert Report

Bruce Springsteen And Billy Joel Sign On For Obama Benefit

In what is being billed as the first time they’ve ever played at the same concert, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel have signed on for a benefit for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama on Oct. 16 at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom.Other “exciting guests” for the show have yet to be announced. Balcony tickets are $500, while premiere seats are $2,500 and lounge seats are $10,000. They can be purchased by clicking HERE. Springsteen, who endorsed Obama this spring, recently finished a tour with the E Street Band in support of his 2007 album, “Magic.” On Sunday, it was confirmed the group will play during the Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 1 in Tampa, Fla. Joel, meanwhile, begins a month-long tour of China, Australia, Japan and New Zealand Nov. 12 in Hong Kong. 

C’mon Get Happy…Partridge Family Remake Heading To NBC

“The Partridge Family” has found a new network home at NBC.

The Peacock has picked up a contemporary single-camera take on the classic ABC sitcom to be written by Jeff Rake.

“Partridge” hails from Reveille, Geffen Records and Sony TV. A fan of the 1970s series, Rake plans to “turn the premise on its head.”

“In the original, the kids actually recruited their mom to front the band, which I can’t see happening in any family on this planet,” he said. “The new version will reflect what seems to me to be the more realistic family band scenario these days: a struggling, sort of well-meaning mom pimping her kids in order to create a wholesome-slash-sexy cash cow.”

The Partridge Family albums were consistent smashes in the early ’70s, with three of them reaching the top 10 of The Billboard 200 between October 1970 and August 1971. The group also netted five top 20 hits on the Hot 100.